LIBRARY USERS’ COMMITTEE

Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 February 2003

Dr D Coates (Chair)

Ms P Alfrey	Prof Y V Kurylev
Mr D J Allen (abs)	Dr N Mansfield (abs)
Prof S Alexandrov (abs)	Mrs M D Morley
Dr S M Allin	Mr G Murdock
Dr S Andrianova	Dr P N Murgatroyd
Prof B Brooks	Prof C Oppenheim
Dr D Coates	Dr S Rice
Dr M A Evans (abs)	Dr E J Rich
Dr G Hargrave (abs)	Dr J P Taylor (abs)
Dr R J Heath (abs)	Mr A H Tyler (abs)
Mr P J Holligan	Mr A Village (abs)
Dr M Howell	Prof B Woodward (abs)

In attendance:

Jeff Brown, Mike Chaney, Michelle Berry and Kelly Friend.

1. Apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Mr D J Allen, Dr M A Evans, Dr N J Mansfield and Mr A Village.

2. Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2002 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

3. Matters Arising

Minute 5 Library Budget

The Library had an extra £30,000 allocated to it. All this money will be spent on information provision, and the Committee were asked to let Jeff Brown know if they had any specific areas they wished the money to be spent on.

Minute 8 MetaLib

The official MetaLib launch went ahead on 27 November 2002. Unfortunately the VC couldn’t attend but Dr Coates kindly stepped in. MetaLib is proving to be an extremely successful service.

4. Librarian’s Report

The Librarian’s Report to the Library User Committee, February 2003, circulated with the agenda, was noted.

The Librarian asked for suggestions on ways to reduce problems with noise and litter in the Library. Ideas should be passed to the Librarian.

Theft in the Library was also discussed. There has been a high increase in the number of thefts, with 19 incidents reported last semester compared to only 6 in the last academic year. This is an area of high concern and members of the Committee were asked to use channels to report back to their Departments and students to be more aware and look after their belongings. Possible ways of reducing thefts are also being looked into.

It was also noted that the Development Office has approached the Library with a proposal for raising funds to augment the Library’s book fund. This will involve no costs to the Library.

5. Materials Allocation Methodology

This matter is reviewed on a regular basis and was discussed at the meeting. It was decided that the Librarian will look at some different ways of including RAE ratings, and the effect of altering the Teaching: Research ratio.

6. Service Level Agreement

The Librarian asked for suggestions for items to be included in next years’ Service Level Agreement. Some suggestions were:

· Library staff support for online reading lists

· Automated telephone renewals of loans

· Self-service issues

· Online booking of study carrels and group study rooms

The Committee were asked to let the Librarian know of other suggestions over the next month.

7. Operational Plan

Progress on the Operational Plan was noted.

8. Any Other Business

None

9. Date of the Next Meeting

Wednesday 14 May 2003, at 1.00pm.